Sewing machine lubrication



Nov. 25, 1952 H. RITTER ETAL 2,619,061

SEWING MACHINE LUBRICATION Fil'ed Feb. 25, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. Herman Eiffel" WITNESS BY and l Vz'lb zfl JPeeiS ATTORNEY Nov. 25, 1952 H. RlTTER ETAL 2,619,061

SEWING MACHINE 'LUBRICATION Filed Feb. 25, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZNVENTORS. Her'm an Rz'fier MIA Z 7 S8 BY amimlbur' Jfeefs ATTORNEY NOV. 25, 1952 RlTTER r 2,619,061

SEWING MACHINE LUBRICATION Filed Feb. 25, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TORS. [ferman fiz'zfez BY amZJ l/dbur Peefs A T2" URNE Y WITNESS Patented Nov. 25, 1952 SEWING MACHINE LUBRICATION Herman Bitter, Cranford, and Wilbur J. Peets,

Watchung, N. J assignors to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application February 25, 1950, Serial No. 146,244

12 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines and, more particularly, to devices associated with the lubrication of sewing machines and has for its primary object the provision of improved equipment arranged to dispose of excess oil that may collect in a sewing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for removing excess oil from a sump formed in the bracket-arm head of a sewing machine, which means can be installed in an existing sewing machine with a minimum amount of machine work.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for removing excess oil from a well in the bracket-arm head of a sewing machine, which means will be economical to install and efficient in operation.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a pump means of the class described, which not only pumps the oil but which also filters the oil as the oil is conveyed by the pump.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of preferred embodiments of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, which form part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is an elevational, sectional view of a portion of a chain-stitch type sewing machine showing one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of portions of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the oil sling shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is an elevational, sectional view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a second form of the invention as applied to a lock-stitch sewing machine;

Fig. 6 is a view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially along the line of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of portions of the mechanism shown in Figs. 5 through 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmental, elevational, sectional view similar to Figs. 1 and 5 but showing a third form of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a view taken substantially along the line Ifil0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing elements which also appear in Figs. 9 and 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmental, elevational sectional view similar to Figs. 1, 5 and 9 but showing a fourth form of the invention;

Fig. 13 is a view taken substantiallyalong the line l3l3 of Fig 12; and

Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view of portions of the mechanism shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, one embodiment of the invention, as applied to a chain stitch type sewing machine, is disclosed in Figs. 1 through 4, showing a sewing machine comprising, a. base affording a horizontally disposed work-supporting-plate l2 having an inset throat-plate [3. A conventional feed-dog I4, operates upwardly through openings in the plate I3. A conventional hollow standard (not shown) 12 and supports an overhanging bracket-arm I5 carrying, at its free end, a hollow bracketarm head l6 which is normally closed by a removable face-plate ll, having a gasket [3, and held in place by screws 19. Journaled lengthwise of the arm l5 in bearing bushings, one of which is shown at 2!, is a main shaft 22 which may be driven by any suitable source of power, as for example a motor (not shown).

At its extreme forward end, the shaft 22 has secured to it, by a set screw 25, a crank-disk 23 carrying a crank pin 24, which through a link 26 and collar 21, transmits reciprocatory motion to an inclined needle bar 28 slidingly mounted in bearings 29 and 3| in the head 16. At its lower end, the needle-bar 28 carries a pair of eye-pointed needles 32-82 which cooperate with other stitch-forming instrumentalities (not shown) but located below the throatplate l3. A thread take-up, of conventional construction is provided at 34. Also mounted in the head 16, substantially parallel to the inclined needle bar 28 is a bushing 35 for suporting the lower end of a spring-pressed presser-bar 36 which carries, at its lower end, a presser-foot 31.

To lubricate the sewing machine an oil pump, not shown but of standard design, forces oil under pressure into a hollow bore 38 of the shaft 22, one end of the bore being closed by a plug it). The bearing bushing 2| is lubricated through a radial duct 39 formed in the shaft 22. The duct 3e delivers oil to the end of the bushing 21 nearest the hollow head l6 and the shaft 22 is formed with a spiral groove 6| which forces rises from the work-support oil along the bearing bushing 2| and back into the bracket-arm I5. Most of the oil that may leak from the front end of the bushing 2|, is caught by an inner annular groove 43 formed in the bushing 2|, and the oil is returned to the inner cavity of the arm l5 by means of an, inclined duct or conduit 44 formed in a lower portion of the bushing 2|.

In order to lubricate the needle bar actuating mechanisms 24, 25, 27, etc. the shaft 22 is provided with a second radial duct 48 which connects with a radial duct 41 formed in the crank disk 23. The duct 47 is in line with a radial duct 48 formed in the crank pin 24, and the duct 48 connects with a bore 49 formed axially in the pin 24. A pair of radial ducts 5l.--5l formed in the pin 24 connect the opposite end of the bore '49 with the cooperating bearing surfaces found between the crank pin 24 and the link 26. Some oil is allowed to leak from the bearing surfaces between pin 24 and the link 26- and this leakage oil is sufificient to lubricate the bearing surface of the collar 27.

When the sewing machine is operating, oil is pumped into the bore 38 and oil leaves the bore 38 by way of the ducts 39, 45, 47, 4'8, bore 49 and ducts 5| and thus l'ubricates parts within the head I6. Any excess oil which is introduced into the head l-G accumulates in a sump or well 53, formed in the lower part of the head.

The instant invention is concerned with means for efficiently and economically removing oil from the well or sump 53 and returning this excess oil tothe cavity within the arm i 5 from whence the oil drains to the main sewing machine reservoir (not shown).

The means provided for removing, and at the same time filtering, oil from the well 53' includes a wick 54, of which the lower or receiving end dips into or rests in the well 53, the lower end of the wick being held in position by a support bracket 55 projecting outwardly from the presser-bar bushing 35. The upper or delivery end of the wick 54 is supported by a rectangularly shaped tubular wick-holder 5-1 which is pivotally supported from a pin or screw 58 carried by a plug 59 held into a stepped aperture 6| formed in the rear face of the head [5, the plug being held to the head [5'- by a plurality of screws as 52. The main rectangular body portion 63- of the wick-holder 51 is' of proper size to accommodate a doubled portion 64- of the wick 54, and the body portion 63 is provided with an upwardly open, longitudinally extending cutaway aperture 55 which allows the portion, of the wick 54, held by the holder 51, to be exposed as at 64 (Fig. 2).

As best seen in Fig. 3, the plug 59 is cylindrical in form having a diameter that is several times its axial length. A raised portion of the plug 59 provides a pair of axially extending bosses 68 and 69-, the boss 68 being apertured by an unthreaded hole 1|, whereas, the boss 69 is apertured by a threaded hole 12, the two holes being coaxial so that the screw 58, may pass therethrough. The wick-holder 57 has a pair of' integrally formed depending flanges T3 and 14, each being apertured by a hole 16-, the said holes IS- being the means for pivotally mountingthe holder 5-! on the screw 58. The

flange 13 is relatively long and thereby acts as a guard to hold the wick 54 from contact with the rotary crank disk 23-. The pivoted end of the holder 57 has anupwardly inclined arm 71, of which the upper end is doubly notched as at 18 to accommodate one end of a tension spring 19. The pivoted end of the holder 51 also has a pair of horizontally extending notches 8l8l, which, when the holder 51 is mounted as shown in Fig. 2, accommodate the free outwardly extending arm 82 of an L-shaped stop bracket for limiting the pivotal movement of the holder 5?, the other arm 83 of the bracket being held to the plug 59 by a screw 84. The upper end of the arm 83 also carries a hook 85 to which is fastened the other end of the aforementioned spring 19. Thus the wick-holder 51 and the wick portion 54', held thereby, are biased upwardly about the pivot pin 58.

When the wick-holder 51 and wick 54 are in the position shown in. Figs. 1 and the receiving portion. of the Wick rests in the sump 53 and the delivery or exposed portion 64 of the wick 54, by reason of the spring I9, is pressed lightly against the lower curved surface of a frusto-coni'cal member or tapered oil sling 8?. which is formed integrally with and extends inwardly from the crank disk 23. Since the member 81 is formed integral with the disk 23, it rotates therewith and with the shaft 22-. The frusto-conical surface of the member 81 is provided with a spiral groove 88, which as shown, advances in a counter-clockwise direction from the crank disk end of the shaft. When the shaft 22 and the member 87 are rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the crank disk end of the shaft, a pumping action is set up whereby oil, which has risen to the top of the wick by capillary action, is wiped or otherwise removed from the wick portion 64 and conveyed by the combined action of the spiral 88 and centrifugal force which causes oil to move outwardly on the tapered surface of the oil sling to the maximum circumference or discharge edge of the member 81, thus causing oil to move in a direction away from the head of the sewing machine. Centrifugal force produced by rotation of the member 81 causes the oil to be deposited in the stationary annular groove or oil receiving channel 43 surrounding the discharge edge of the sling 81 tocatch oil thrown therefrom and from whence it is conveyed by gravity through the conduit 44 to the interior of the arm I5, as heretofore explained.

If it should become necessary to replace the wick 54, the screws 62 are removed and the lower end of the wick 54 is released from contact with the support 55. Then removal of the plug 59 from the aperture 6! removes the wick-holder 51, the wick 54 and all of the parts supported from the plug 59. Thus, there is provided a very convenient means for servicing the oil removing means of the present invention.

Figs. 5 through 8 of the drawings illustrate a second form of the invention as applied to a lock stitch type sewing machine. Parts of the machine shown in Figs. 5 through 8 which are designated by primed numerals of less than 100, as for example set-screw 25 and bearing 29', correspond in function to parts having the same unprimed numerals in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4, and these parts will not in every instance be redescribed in connection with Figs. 5 through 8. Parts of the mechanism shown in Figs. 5 through 8 having numerals between H39 and it!) are particularly associated with this structure and will now be considered.

In order to lubricate the needle bar actuating mechanism located within the hollow head l6 of Figs. 5 through 8, there is provided a supporting plate IOI which is more fully disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,206,285. This plate IOI extends through an aperture I02 in the arm I5 and communicates with a well I03 formed in the arm I5 and the bushing 2I'. The plate IOI, which is'held in place by a screw I04, houses a plurality of wicks I06 having ends located within the well I03 and having their other ends threaded through I I pipes I01 depending from the plate IN, the second ends of the wicks I06 extending slightly below,the lower ends of the pipes I01 into such positions that oil is wiped off by moving parts within the hollow head I6. When the sewing machine is operating, oil is pumped into the bore 38' in the shaft 22. Oil leaves the bore 38' by way of the duct 39', saturates the wicks I06 which in turn lubricate parts within the head I6. The

excess oil, together with any other excess oil that; may find its way into the head 16', may accumu-" bushing 2| by means of a screw I 09 passing through a hole III in an upstanding arm H2, the arm II2 being formed integral with an tangent to the cylindrical portion of the holder I08.

The main cylindrical body portion of the wick holder I08 is of proper size to accommodate the delivery end of the wick 54 and is provided with an upwardly open axially extending oval aperture H3, which allows a portion of the wick 54', held by the holder, to be exposed as at II4. A guard arm H6, which protects the wick 54' from the rotating disk 23', is formed integral with and tangent to the cylindrical portion of the holder I08.

The arm II6 depends from the holder I08 at a location diametrically opposite the arm I I2, heretofore mentioned, the two arms I I2 and H6 lying in planes that are parallel and vertical. A helical spring II1, having arms I I8 and H9, surrounds the screw I09. The spring II1 biases the holder I08 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 7) about the screw I09 by reason of arm I I8 abutting a shoulder I2I formed on the bushing 2I' and by reason of the arm II9 abutting the end portion I22 of the wick-holder I 08.

When the wick-holder I08 is in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the portion I I4 of the wick 54, by reason of the spring H1, is pressed lightly against the curved surface of the frusto-conical member or oil spring 81'. The frusto-conical surface of the member 81' and its spiral groove 88 H cooperate to remove oil from the delivery portion H4 of the wick and deposit it in the annular groove 43', from whence it is conveyed to the interior of the arm I5 as previously explained. If

it becomes necessary to replace the wick 54' shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the shaft and crank-disk 23' are rotated until a cut away portion of the disk 23 exposes the screw I09. Loosening of the screw I09 permits removal of the wick holder I08 and the wick 54'.

"Figs. 9 through 11 of the drawings illustrate a third form of the invention as applied to a ma-' chine similar to that shown in Figs. 1 through 4;

Parts of the mechanism shown in Figs. 9 through 11, having numerals ranging from I50 through I66, are particularly associated with this structure and will now be described.

In this embodiment of the invention, a bight I5I, which is formed intermediate the ends of a portion of a long wick I 50, surrounds the oil sling member 81 and forms the delivery portion of the wick, whereas the lower or receiving ends I52 and I53 of the wick rest in the well 53. A wire bracket, which has an eye I54 at one end, is held to the head I6 of the sewing machine by a screw I56. The free end of the bracket is in the form of a U-shaped hook I51 which engages two intermediate portions I58 and I59 of the wick I50 thereby holding the wick from contact with the rotating crank disk 23". A means for tensioning the wick and thereby holding the bight I5I of the wick in contact with the surface of the oil sling 81 is provided, and comprises a clip I6I having a pair of prongs for each of the downwardly extending portions of the wick I50. The lower end of the clip I6I is apertured and is engaged by one end of a helical spring I62, which is tensioned by having its other end hooked into an aperture formed in the free end of a bracket I63 which is held to the bearing 35 by a screw I64.

The present embodiment of the invention opcrates in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described. Excess oil, that finds its way to the wall 53, flows by capillary action to the member 81 where it is removed from the wick and carried to the annular groove 43.

If it should become desirable to replace the wick I50, the clip I6I is loosened and then the old wick may be removed. Thereafter a new wick is threaded over the oil sling member 81 and behind the hook I51, this being done without dismantling the sewing machine.

In order to facilitate replacement of the wick I50, a channel I66 has been provided by bevelling the right face (Fig. 9) of the crank disk 23" and by cutting away a portion of the left end of the bearing bushing 2i", the disk 23" and the bushing 2I" being otherwise similar to the elements 23 and 2I previously described and shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The bight I5I of the wick I50 passes through the channel I66 during the removal and replacement operation. The sewing machine of Figs. 9 and 10 is shown equipped with a plug 59", that is similar to the plug 59 of Fig. 1. The plug 59", however, is not removed during replacement of the wick I55 and, therefore, the plug 59" may be omitted if desired.

Figs. 12 through 14 of the drawings illustrate a fourth form of the invention as applied to a sewing machine similar to that shown in Figs. 1 through 4. Parts of the mechanism shown in Figs. 12 through 14, having numerals ranging from i15 through 202, are particularly associated with this structure and will now be considered.

In this instance, the delivery end of the wick 54 does not come into direct contact with the frusto-conical oil sling 81, but is separated therefrom by an oil conducting felt pad I16, which is substantially in the form of a wedge. The pad I16 and the delivery end of the wick 54 are supported by a wickand pad-holder having a plurality of parts, including, a box-like housing I11, a solid core I18, a support I19 and a tension spring I8I. The upper body portion of the hous ing I11 has an upwardly open, longitudinally extending, cut-away or aperture I82 which allows the pad I16 to be exposed so that it contacts the member 81. The external left wall (Figs. 13 and 14) of the housing I11 carries a downwardly open hook I83 designed for engagement by the lower end of the spring I-8I., The core-I18 has an upwardly inclined surface I84 apertured as at I85 by a downwardly extending wick accommodating hole I81. A lug I88 extends below the main portion of the core I18 and this lug enters a notch I89 formed between two lugs I9I and I92 protruding from the left end (Fig. 14) of the support I19. The support I19 also has a. downwardly extending bracket I93 apertured by a vertical slotted hole I94 'by which the bracket I93 is secured by a screw I96 to a boss I91 formed on inner surface of the bracket-head I6. In order to accommodate the holder I11-I18-I19 the lower portion of a bearing I98, similar to hearing bushing 2|, is cut away as at 99 and a pin 20B protrudes from one side of the bearing bushing, the pin 2% acting as an anchor for the upper end of the spring IGI. An opening 2IH in the head I6 is closed by a plug 202 these being similar to the aperture BI and plug 59 previously described;

When the parts I11, I18, I19, ISI and I88 are assembled, the upper or discharge end of the Wick 54, is held against the bottom of the pad I16, and the top of the pad is held against the lower surface of the member 81, the spring I8I actingto bias the housing I11 upwardly. The operation of this embodiment of the invention is similar to that of the previously described embodiments.

When it becomes desirable to replace the wick 54 or the felt pad I16, the plug 2il2is removed, the spring I8I unhooked, and the screw I96 loosened but not removed. Because of the slotted hole I94, the support I19 drops down sufficiently to allow the housing I11 and the core I18 to pass below the member 81 and out of the aperture 201. Then either one of both of the elements I16 and 54 may be easily replaced.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what we claim herein is:

1. In a sewing machine having a frame including a hollow bracket-arm terminating in a hollow head provided with a lubricant-collecting sump, a bearing-bushing at the junction of said head with said bracket-arm and provided in the hollow head side with a lubricant-collecting recess, a horizontally disposed rotary shaft journaled in said bearing-bushing and extending into the hollow head, a rotary member carried by said shaft at the bracket-arm head side of said bearing bushing and extending into said recess, said member being provided with lubricant-feeding means rendered effective upon rotation of said shaft for feeding lubricant toward said recess, a lubricant-conducting wick extending into said sump, holding means for maintaining said wick in oil delivering communication With said rotary member, and conduit means leading lubricant from said recess into said hollow bracket-arm at the opposite side of said bearing.

2. In a sewing machine having a frame including a hollow bracket-arm terminating in a hollow head provided with a lubricant-collecting sump, a bearing bushing at the junction of said head with said bracket-arm and provided in the hollow head side with a lubricant-collecting recess, a horizontally disposed rotary shaft journaled in said bearing-bushing and extending into the hollow head, a frusto-conical rotary member carried by said shaft at the bracket-arm head side of said bearing bushing and having the large diameter portion thereof extending into said recess in such a manner that oil carried by said rotary member is deposited in said recess, a lubri- 8 can't-conducting wick extending into said sump, holding means for maintaining said wick in oil delivering communication with said rotary member, and conduit means leading-lubricant from said recess into said hollow bracket-armv at th opposite side of said bearing.

3. In 'a sewing machine having a frame including a hollow bracket-arm terminating in a hollow head provided with a lubricant-collecting sump, a bearing-bushing at the junction of said head with said bracket-arm and provided in the hollow head side with a lubricant-collecting recess, a horizontally disposed rotary shaft journaled in said bearing-bushing and extending into: the hollow head, a frusto-conical rotary member carried by said shaft at the bracket-arm head side of said bearing bushing and extending into said recess, said member being provided with a spiral groove for feeding lubricant along said frusto-conical member into said recess, alubricant-conducting wick extending into said sump, holding means for maintaining said'wick in oil delivering communication with said rotary member, and conduit means leading lubricant from said recess into said hollow bracket-arm at. the opposite side of said bearing.

4. In a sewing machine having a frame including a hollow bracket-arm terminating in a hollow head provided with a lubricant-collecting sump, a bearing-bushing at the junction of said head with said bracket-arm and provided in the hollow head side with a lubricant-collecting re cess in communication with said hollow head. a horizontally disposed rotary shaft-journaled inv said bearing-bushing and extending into said hollow head, arotary member-carried by said shaft and positioned in said hollow head-and having a portion extending into said recess, saidmember being provided with lubricant-feeding means rendered effective upon rotation of said shaft for feeding lubricant toward said recess, a lubricant-conducting wick positioned in said hollow head and extending into said sump, holding means positioned in the hollow head for maintaining said wick in oil delivering communication with said rotary member, and conduit means leading lubricant from said recess into said hol-- low bracket-arm at the opposite side of said bearing;

shaft for feeding lubricant toward said recess, a

lubricant-conducting wick positioned in the hollow head and extending into said sump, holding means positioned in the hollow head for engaging said wick, a spring cooperating with said holding means and :biasing said wick into oil delivering communication-with said rotary member, and conduit means leading lubricant from said recess into said hollow bracket-arm at the opposite side of said bearing.

6. The device of claim 1 in which said means for maintaining said Wick in oil delivering communication with said rotary member is a wick-e 5. In a sewing machine having a frame in holder arranged to press a portion of said wick against said rotary member.

7. The device of claim 1 in which said bracketarm head is provided with an aperture, in which a plug is provided to close the aperture in said bracket-arm head, and in which said holding means is a wick-holder carried by said plug in such a manner that, when said plug is removed, said wick-holder and wick are removed from said bracket-arm head.

8. The device of claim 7 in which said plug has a pair of inwardly extending bosses for pivotally mounting said wick-holder.

9. The device of claim 7 in which said plug has a pair of inwardly extending bosses for pivotally mounting said wick-holder and in which said wick-holder is provided with a guard depending therefrom to protect the wick from damage.

10. The device of claim 1 in which said lubricant-conducting wick is in the form of a bight surrounding said rotatable member.

11. The device of claim 1 in which said means for maintaining said wick in oil delivering communication with said rotary member is a wick- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,890,844 Delaval et a1 Dec. 13, 1932 2,061,187 Colvin a Nov. 17, 1936 2,063,673 Haley Dec. 8, 1936 2,345,992

Sauer Apr. 4, 1944 

